Skip to content
Blog How to Care for Your Original Oil Painting

How to Care for Your Original Oil Painting

a painting on canvas

In order to enjoy your original oil painting works for a long time, you would like to know how to care for your original oil paintings.

We have compiled a list of things to care when decorating oil paintings.
Please take a look when you hang oil paintings in your home.

☑Table of Contents of this article

  • How to care for your original oil painting.
    • Can you hang an oil painting in the sunlight?
    • Can you hang an oil painting above a radiator?
    • Can you hang an oil painting above a gas fire place or stove?
    • Can you hang an oil painting in a place of high humidity?
    • Can you hang an oil painting on a wall with nails?
  • How to care for your large oil painting.
    • Check the load capacity of the metal fittings when you hang it in a frame.
  • Enjoy your original oil painting for a long time.

How to care for your original oil paintings.

a beautiful living room

Avoid direct sunlight (ultraviolet rays), high temperature, high humidity, and moisture to enjoy original oil paintings for a long time.

Let’s take a look at the points to care when displaying oil paintings.

Can you hang an oil painting in the sunlight?

Avoid direct sunlight.

Oil painting is a durable painting medium.
However, direct exposure to sunlight can cause the oil painting to discolor or fade.

You can frame the painting in a frame with an acrylic cover that prevents ultraviolet (UV) rays from hitting the painting, or you can apply a varnish to the canvas that prevents the effects of UV rays, but the painting may still be somewhat affected by UV rays.

If you want to choose a light that makes your paintings look beautiful, we recommend the following article. Please take a look at this one as well.

>> How To Choose Art Lights Make Paintings Look Beautiful?

Can you hang an oil painting above a radiator?

Oil paintings are more susceptible to damage when hot, so hang them on a wall away from the radiator of the heating unit.

It gets very hot above the radiator of a heating apparatus.
Even if you are a short distance away from the radiator, the heat can easily transfer to the artwork.

We explain the detailed instructions on how to decorate your living room with wall arts in How To Decorate Simple Wall Art For The Modern Living Room..

Can you hang an oil painting above a gas fire place or stove?

When displaying your artwork in the kitchen or living room, hang it on a wall away from areas where fire is used.

If you hang an oil painting above a fire, such as a gas stove or fireplace in the kitchen, the heat will be transferred to the painting even if it is framed.

It is also not recommended to hang oil paintings near places where fire is used.

If you want to know more about how to decorate your kitchen, see “Kitchen Artwork Ideas to Create a Heart Warming Place“. Please see also here.

Can you hang an oil painting in a place of high humidity?

You can hang oil paintings to avoid humid areas, such as a bathroom with a bathtub.
Displaying in a humid place can cause mold to grow on the artwork.

If the canvas is displayed unframed, it is particularly susceptible to the effects of humidity.

Also, avoid displaying your work in places where water splashes, such as near a bathroom sink or kitchen sink.
Splashing water can easily damage the artwork.

For detailed information on how to decorate a wall art in the bathroom, please refer to Beautiful Relaxing Bathroom Wall Art Decorating Ideas. Please see also here.

Can you hang an oil painting on a wall with nails?

When using nails to hang oil paintings on the wall, it is necessary to make a hole in the wall.

If you live in a rented house, drilling a hole in the wall may require restoration of the current condition, depending on your lease contract.

We recommend that you check your lease agreement before hanging oil paintings on the wall.

If you want to know how to hang an oil painting canvas without damaging the wall, please see How To Hang A Oil Painting Canvas Without A Frame Easily.

How to care for your large oil painting.

a large wall painting art above a sofa

Check the load capacity of the metal fittings when you hang it in a frame.

When large oil paintings are framed and displayed, they can be very heavy.

Each metal fixture and string has a specific “load capacity,” which indicates how much weight the metal fixture can withstand.

When hanging heavy frames, use metal fittings and strings that can handle the weight of the frame.

Be sure to check the load capacity of the triangle D-ring picture wall hanger with screw, eye screws, and strings.

When framed, the weight of the frame will be added to the weight of the canvas, making it quite heavy.

For your reference, we explain how to choose a frame for an oil painting that fits your home below. Please take a look at this page as well.

>> How To Chose A Right Frame For An Oil Painting For Your Home

Enjoy your original oil painting for a long time.

see a beautiful scene

The following is a summary of care that you should take when displaying oil paintings.

Avoid direct sunlight (ultraviolet rays), high temperatures, high humidity, and moisture, and you will be able to enjoy your oil paintings for a long time.

For your reference, the following article explains the copyright of paintings. If you would like to know more about copyrights for paintings, please also see here.

>> Commercial Use Of A Painting You Bought – Japanese Copyright

We hope you will treasure your favorite oil painting artwork.

New Arrivals